Coin lock



w. B.y HAsKlNs .E1-AL COIN LOCK Filed Dec. 20, 1941 Feb. Y23, 1943.

Patented Feb. 23, 1943 UNETED STATES PATENT FMCE COIN LOCK William B.Haskins and Hyman Schlosberg, Los Angeles, Calif.

7 Claims.

Our invention relates to locks the initial operation of which isdependent upon the insertion of a token or coin.

Among some of the more important objects of the invention are: toprovide two improved cooperating bolt actuating mechanisms, theoperation of some parts of one actuating mechanism at times remainingpassive during the operation of the actuating parts of the othermechanism; to improve upon the coin chute mechanism and the push means,utilizing in an improved manner the medium of the coin or token as abasis where- With to produce an initial retraction of the locks bolt;and to provide in a coin lock an improved spring pressed bolt which atall times is retractable, independently of all mechanism effecting itsmanual retraction, by contact of such bolt with stationary parts of doorstructures.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved coin lockparticularly adapted forv use in connection with pay toilets which issimple in design, requires less effort in its manual operation, and yetis durable and also easy to manufacture and assemble.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin controlleddoor locking mechanism which will be more dependable in its operationand which has operating parts of a simple, sturdy character that willwear for a long period of time without getting out of order and whichftherefore, will not be in danger of operating in such a way as to lockthe occupant against egress from the room after he has used a coin toobtain ingress thereto.

Yet another obj ect of the invention is to provide, in a coin releasingmechanism, an arrangement of operating parts whereby the coin releasingaction will be accomplished with the expenditure of less force.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention resides inthe novel arrangement and combination of parts and in the details ofconstruction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood thatchanges in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosedmaybe made within the scope of that which is claimed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Referring tothe drawing wherein is shown what is deemed to be apreferredl embodiment of the invention:

Fig. l is a fragmentary elevational view looking toward the inside ofthe lock, the plane of section being indicated approximately by the lineI-I of Fig. 5. In said view is shown a coin positioned f to place thelock in condition for actuation;

Fig. 2 is a View similar to Fig. 1 except that the lock mechanism hasbeen actuated, completely retracting the bolt;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the mechanism afterthe operating handle has been manually released and the door, to whichthe lock is fastened, placed in condition for being opened;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view, partly in section, the plane ofthe section being indicated on line 4 4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section taken on line 5 5 of Fig.- 1;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary section taken on line 'I-I of Fig. 3.

Referring in detail to the several figures shown in the drawing, theinvention therein shown comprises a combination lock and coin casing I,a cover plate 2 for enclosing the actuating mecha nism of the lock and aremovable door 3 providing access to the coin compartment for emptyingit at desired intervals.

The casing I specifically includes a top wall 4, a bottom wall 5,parallel side walls 6 and 7, and a face wall 8 joined to the edges ofall of said walls 4, 6 and 1, said plate 8 and door 3 combinedlyenclosing the otherwise exposed face of the casing. Screws 9 extendthrough openings 9ct in the plate 2 to mount the casing upon the door orclosure ID. In Fig. 1 is shown a jamb II having a keeper mechanism I2fitted thereto which cooperates with the bolt I3 to lock the door I Il.

A bar I4 journalled in the side walls 6 and 'l' spans the space betweenthem in a spaced relation to the face wall 8 and plate 2 and upon saidbar is slidably mounted the coin carriage I5. Said coin carriage I5includes the parallel, slightly spaced apart, upstanding plates I6 andI'I having vbetween them the coin passage I6a. As viewed in Fig. 3 theupper end of plate I6 has a short flange I8 directed toward the right,and the plate I'I has a longer flange I9 directed toward the left. Whenthe coin carriage is reciprocated the anges I8 and I9 slide smoothlyalong the lower surface of the top casing wall 4, and the ange I9 alsofunctions to close, at times, a coin admission slot 20 in the casing.The plates I6 and I I are shown as parts of a single sheet of metalhaving a U-bend Ib, see Fig. 6, which unites said plates. The coinoarriage is arrested at its normal position by a stop pin 8x carried bythe casing wall 8.

A little above its midlength the coin carriage I 5 has a horizontallyextending angular finger 2| the terminal portion 22 of which enters aspacious recess 253 in the upper side of the lock bolt I3. The plate I1of the coin carriage carries a leftwardly projecting sleeve 24 whichsurrounds the bar I 4 with a working t, said bar extending from side toside of the casing and at the right side of the carriage being encircledby a compression spring 25 which returns the carriage to its normalposition.

The coin carriage plates I6 and I1 are both widened throughout theirlower portions as indicated at 26 on Fig, 5, thus making room forinserting between them a spacer 26a without said spacer being located inthe path of the descending coin C. Said spacer 26a is apertured toprovide for the passage therethrough of the carriage guide bar I4. Thiswidened part of plate I1 is furnished with a leftwardly directed lateralextension or block 21, through the upperV portion of which is a bore 28having a contracted portion 29 at its left end which has a loose workingfit around a rod 3|, said rod at times cooperating with the coin whenthe latter is located between the alined apertures I5c (see Fig. 4) inthe carriage walls I6 and I1 to move the carriage I5 toward the right.The rod'3l carries near its right end a pin or laterally projecting part32 which is engageable with the annular shoulder formed by thecontracted part of said bore.v Said rod 3| has its opposite endpivotedby pin 33a to the radial arm 33 fixed to the shaft 34 of the knob35. Rod 3| carries a lateral finger `3| a to which is connected atraction spring 36 which at the proper time moves the rod to coinreleasing position. s

In order to lessen the amount of force required to retract the rod 3| alost motionconnection is provided between the knob shaft 34 and theradial arm 33 operated thereby, Accordingly Said arm 33 has an annularportion 33x loosely surrounding said shaft and an arcuate lost motioninternal recess 331' is provided in said portion 33x with whichcooperates a pin or screw 33s carried by the knob shaft. When the spring36 pulls the push rod 3| out of contact with the coin it does not aiectthe position of Vthe'knob or its shaft, hence a lighter spring may berelied upon safely to perform this function.

Through the lower portion of the extension 21 of the carriage plate I1extends a bore 31 which has a working fit around the stationary coinarresting arm 4I which projects horizontally from the left side of thecasing, said arm also being projectable through alined apertures in bothof said plates, as will be seen from Fig. l. During the firstreciprocatory movement of the carriage the terminal part 22 (see Fig. 6)carried thereby will engage the body portion ofthe locking bolt andcause said bolt to be retracted against the opposition of springs 55. Anut 1b may be welded or otherwise secured to the inner side of thecasing wall 1 and have said arm screwed into it, as shown,

The coin carriage I5 also carries, near its upper end, an abutmentmember 42 having a shoulder 43 engageable by one arm 44 of an angulardog having another arm 45. Said dog is mounted on a pivot member 46screwed into one of the sides of the casing, a tension spring 41attached to .said arm causing the dog arm 44 to move toward the abutmentmember 42. A

The laterally recessed body portion 50 of the locking bolt structure I3has screwed into its inner end portion an upper guide rod 5I and a lowerguide rod 52, the opposite end portions of these guide rods working inbores 53 provided for them in the internal boss 54 of the casing.Compression springs 55 coiled around them normally maintain the beveledhead 56 of the locking bolt in its projecting position.

Adjacent to the inner side of the door IU is a knob 56 xed to the knobshaft 56a which, in turn, has fixed to it a radial tappet arm 51engageable both with the arm 45 of the aforementioned angular dog, andwith an operating pin or screw 58 carried by the body portion of thelocking bolt.

Describing certain details of the coin receiving part of the device,door 3 is shown held in place by a conventional lock assembly 3a of anydesired type controlled by a key 3b".

The operation is as follows: Normally, that is when the door is closed,'the locking bolt I3 is in the ejected position as shown in Fig,-1 andthe coin carriage is at the leftward limit of its movement with the dogarm 44 resting on the right end of the abutment member 42 of the coincarriage, the coin passage |611, of the coin carriage registering withthe coin admission opening or slot 26, and the coin arresting arm 4|being in a position to arrest a descending coin at a point where saidcoin will be abutted against by the rod 3| which is operativelyconnected with the lower (outside) door knob 35. Previous, however, tothe insertion of the coin, operation of said knob will not affect theposition of the coin carriage, because the rod 3| will pass freelythrough the alined pair of upper openings |5c in the carriage, oppositethereto. If now a coin be deposited and allowed to come to rest upon thecoin arresting arm 4I, subsequent turning of knob 35 in the properdirection will move the carriage against the opposition of spring 25.The carriage having been moved in this manner to the right hand limit ofits travel (which position is shown in Fig. 2) the coin supporting arm4| is removed from under the coin, but the coin does not immediatelydrop, because of the pressure of the rod 3| thereagainst. Thereupon,when the operator removes his hand from said knobfthe spring 36 retractsthe rod 3 I, the carriage follow.- ing up the retracted rod for a shortdistance till the dog arm 44 prevents further movement of the coincarriage in this direction, whereupon still further retraction of saidrod 3| by the spring 36 withdraws said rod from the coin andY allows itto fall, as indicated in Fig. 3, into the receptacle provided therefor.While the mechanism is in this position, shown in Fig, 3, the lockingbolt is free to be retracted against the opposition of the springs 55.The above mentioned further retraction of the rod 3| by the spring 36does not affect the position of the knob shaft 34, owing to the lostmotion connection between said Ashaft and its radial arm 33, andtherefore is effected by the expenditure of a minimum amount of force.

When it is desired to open the inside the operator will turn the knob 56and its shaft 56a in the proper direction to cause the tappet arm 51 toact simultaneously `upon the pin 58 carried by the locking bolt and uponthe dog leg 45, thus releasing the arm 44 from the abutment member 42 ofthe coin carriage. Thereupon, when said knob 56 has been released, thecoin carriageis moved to its normal position by the action `of spring 25and at the same time locking bolt is freed to be moved by its springs 35to ejected position. 'At

this time all parts of the mechanism will resume the original positions,shown in Fig. 1.

What is claimed is:

l. A casing, a coin carriage mounted within said casing to reciprocatehorizontally, said carriage including a coin chute positioned to conductcoins downwardly, said chute having opposed side walls each containingan upper opening opposite to that of the other, said chute havingsubjacent to said upper openings alined lower openings through itssides, a horizontally extending coin. arresting arm carried by thecasing in a position to project through said lower openings to supportthe coin in alinement with said upper openings when said carriage is inits normal position, a bolt having a door locking head, said bolt beingmounted in the casing to reciprocate in a direction parallel to that inwhich said carriage reciprocates, spring means tending to eject saidbolt, an arm carried by said carriage and positioned to contact withsaid bolt and retract it when said carriage is moved in the directionwhich said bolt retracts, and means to move said carriage in thedirection last recited, said carriage moving means including a knobexterior to the casing and a rod operatively connected with said knobfor longitudinal reciprocation, said rod being in alinement with theaforesaid upper openings of the coin carriage to push against aninserted coin and thereby move said carriage in a direction to cause itsaforesaid arm to engage and retract the locking bolt.

2. In a structure of the kind described, the combination, with a casingand a horizontally reciprocatory door locking bolt mounted therein; ofcoin controlled means to operate said bolt, said coin controlled meansincluding a coin carriage mounted in the casing to reciprocate in thesame general direction as said bolt, said carriage including adjacentside walls having a downwardly extending coin passage between them,there being through said walls a pair of upper alined openings one ateach side of said passage and subjacent to said upper openings a pair oflower alined openings through said walls one at each side of saidpassage. a stationary coin arresting arm carried by the casing to attimes project across the space between said lower openings, a push rodto operate said coin carriage by being longitudinallf,T moved into anabutting relation to the in- 1 chored to the casing and connected withsaid rod to automatically retract it after its manual opere ation.

3. A casing. a coin carriage mounted within said casing to reciprocatehorizontally, said carriage including a coin chute positioned to conductcoins downwardly, said chute having opposed side walls each containingan upper opening opposite to that of the other, said chute havingsubjacent to said upper openings alined lower openings through itssides, a horizontally extending coin arresting arm carried by the casingin a position to project through said lower openings to support the coinin alinement with said upper openings when said carriage is in itsnormal position, a bolt having a door locking head, said bolt beingmounted in the casing to reciprocate in a direction parallel to that inwhich said carriage reciprocates, spring means tending to move said boltto ejected position, means carried by said carriage to retract said boltwhen the carriage is the casing operatively connected with said knob forlongitudinal movement, said rod being in alinement with the aforesaidupper openings of the coin carriage to push against an inserted coin andthereby move said carriage in a direction to cause said bolt operatingmeans to retract the locking bolt, said carriage being furnished with astop shoulder, a dog positioned to engage said shoulder at a positionwherein the coin supporting rod is retracted in relation to the carriageto a coin releasing position, spring means mounted in the casing tendingto move said carriage back to its normal position, a tappet arm mountedwithin the casing, and manually operable means exterior to the casing toswing said tappet arm in a direction to engage and release said dog andby the same movement engage and retract said locking bolt.

4. A casing, a coin carriage mounted within said casing to reciprocatehorizontally, said carriage including a coin chute positioned to conductcoins downwardly, said chute having opposed side walls each containingan upper opening opposite to that of the other, said chute havingsubjacent to said upper openings alined lower openings through itsSides, a horizontally extending coin arresting arm carried by the casingin a position to project through said lower openings to support the coinin alinement with said upper openings when said carriage is in itsnormal position, a bolt having a door locking head, said bolt beingmounted in the casing to reciprocate in a dire-ction parallel to that inwhich said carriage reoiprocates, spring means tending to eject saidbolt, a part projecting from said carriage to contact with said lockingbolt and retract it when said carriage is moved away from its normalposition in the direction in which said bolt retracts, a horizontallyextending rod mounted within the casing with one of its end portions ina position to be abutted against a coin of greater diameter than theaforementioned upper pair of openings in the coin chute when said coinoccupies the space between such openings, said carriage having a lateralextension provided with a bore through it which is in axial alinementwith the openings of said upper pair of openings, the outer end portionof said bore being diametrically contracted to t around said rod with aloose working fit, the adjacent end portion of said rod carrying alateral projection to engage the shoulder resulting from the diametricalcontraction of said bore, spring means tending to move said carriagetoward its normal position, stop means to arrest the movement of saidcarriage when it reaches its normal position, a dog positioned to engagea part of the carriage to at times arrest the movement of said carriageat a point wherein the aforementioned coin supporting arm unobstructsthe space beneath the coin, means exterior to the carriage operativelyconnected with the aforesaid coin abutting rod to move the carriage tothe limit of its travel away from its normal position, a springoperatively connected with said rod to withdraw the rod after beingmanually operated, a tappet arm movably mounted Within the casing, andmeans exterior to the casing to move said tappet arm in a direction tocause it to release said dog from the part of the carriage with which itis engagable, the same movement of said tappet causing it to engage apart of the locking bolt and retract the latter to an unlocked position.

5. In a structure of the kind described, the combination, with a casingand a horizontally reciprocatory door locking bolt mounted therein# ofcoin controlled means to operate said bolt, said coin controlled meansincluding a coin carriage mounted in the casing to reciprocate in thesame general direction as said bolt, said carriage including adjacentside walls having a downwardly extending coin passage between them,there being through said walls a pair of upper alined openings one ateach side of said passage, means positioned to at times enter said coinpassage at a point subjacent to said openings to support a coin betweenthem, a push rod to operate said coin carriage by being longitudinallymoved into an abutting relation to the inserted coin when the latteroccupies the space between said upper openings, means including a knobexterior to the casing to manually operate said rod in a direction toact against said coin, and a spring anchored to the casing `andconnected withsaid rod to automatically retract it after its manualoperation.

6. The subject matter of claim 5 and, there beingy a lost motionconnection between said knob and push rod which enables said spring toretract said rod slightly while said manually opera-

